I'm installing Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines, I've never played it before...

I'm installing Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines, I've never played it before. For my first playthrough should I install the Basic Patch or the Plus Patch?

I dunno what changes the Plus version makes for that matter.

First time just use the Basic patch. It mostly just fixes bugs and tries to keep everything as close to the "vanilla" experience as possible. Plus Patch adds weapons and moves item locations around, which can screw things up if you ever need to look up what to do in a guide (although some guides take the patches into consideration).

One of the major problems with the Plus patch is that they try to make certain things "realistic" but occasionally screw up the balance. For example, an early enemy fights you with a (relatively powerful) sword and crossbow combo, and in the Plus patch he actually drops them for you when you kill him.

Ah. Cool. I'll go basic then. Thanks a lot bud!

Mansion is best mission

The patch is installing right now, I'm hoping I'll dig it. I've been wanting to play it for like 10 years or something.

Just going to throw this out there since it's pretty obligatory for first-time playthroughs.

If you haven't already made up your mind about what clan to play, it's usually recommended to not play Malkavians or Nosferatu for your first time. The former speak in weird riddles that sometimes have spoilers in their dialogue, and the latter make it much harder to talk to NPCs and walk out in the open since you're so ugly.

Hmmm I did the survey at the start and was given Nosferatu, should I build my character instead?

I'd recommend it.

It's up to you, but I think after most people take the test to see what it's like it's pretty common to just build your own from scratch. It's a pretty good way to get yourself familiar with what the skills and attributes do, too.

Aigh't, thanks guys.

Some other tips:

1. The late game is almost entirely combat so DONT ignore melee/firearms skills or you'll have a bad time.
2. Seduction and intimidate are only used a couple times but regular persuasion comes up all the time.
3. Early firearms are terrible, just use bloodbuff and a melee weapon, even if you have no skills in melee.
4. Nobody is on your side except for the wolf and the guy on the couch.

>4. Nobody is on your side except for the wolf and the guy on the couch.
Don't spoil the game for newbies.

shin gunto isnt that good though and the crossbow needs to be fed bolts with hard earned cash

The plus patch generally adds items in logical places, whereas vanilla feels more empty

But yeah it's probably best to play without plus in the first playthrough

Aigh't, I'm thinking of playing a Male Gangrel cause I kinda dig the way they move on all fours and they seem pretty badass. Sounds good?

sounds good. Gangrel and brujah are good first picks.

Also fem gangrel is a cutie

>Also fem gangrel is a cutie

I'm actually a homosexual, oddly enough. The Toreador dudes are lookers. Gangrel's just looked cool.

is it though?

Time to get out of the thread Op before you're spoiled

OPEN IT

15 minutes into the game, I got stuck in a door and already had to noclip out of it. I kinda dig this shit.

Tutorial? That can happen, especially if you skip through dialog too fast after first meeting jack. Just reload

>4. Nobody is on your side except for the wolf and the guy on the couch.
Why would you give fake spoilers to the noob?
-Nines
-Heather

it has a surprisingly extensive mod community too